Reference to Israel's National Bird Sparks Outrage

Anti-Israel activists criticized a British publication for even mentioning that Israel has a national bird.

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Rachel Hirshfeld, 20/05/12 09:38

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Reuters

Anti-Israel activists harshly criticized the British publication the Morning Star for publishing a quiz in which one of the questions referred to Israel’s national bird, the Hoopoe.

In a letter to the newspaper, George Abendstern Chairman of the Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign (MPSC) expressed his dismay by stating, “I often wonder why so many of its readers find the Morning Star so exasperating. Despite its condemnation of zionists (sic) it yet finds space to include an item in its daily quiz about Israel’s national bird.”

“Is the Star not aware there’s a cultural boycott going on? And then, despite it’s (sic) condemnation of the Bahrain Grand Prix and rightly so, it then goes on to tell us who won. For goodness sake comrades, get your act together,” he continued.

Linda Clair, chairwoman of MPSC, wrote a letter to the publication, as well stating,

“The Morning Star has always been the newspaper you could rely on to support the cause of the Palestinians, so why of all the birds in the world did you choose the Israeli national bird to include in your quiz?”

“Maybe you don’t support the methods chosen by the International Solidarity Movement of BDS to assist the Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and justice,” Clair wrote, adding that this includes any reference to Israel’s wildlife.

They continued to state that, “It was not the bird we object to but what this bird represents – the racist and apartheid State of Israel.”